Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-07-15
Implements i'm New Mexico.


\ correspondent in one of our eN-
changes describes farming in New Mex
leo i'm such a racy manner, that we are
constrained to republish il:
You farmers back in the Estates" may
all talk about your sulky plows, self
binders, steam threshers and wind
pumps, fine Norman horses and Jersey
cows. Ten years ago we, in New Mex
leo, could not brag of many of these
things: and even new, in the Mexican
settlements, we can find many an old
timer on the field OF battle.
The plows are made of wood, beam
about fourteen inches long, All upright
piece, and long piece about six inches
wide for the plow, all rawhided: that is,
wrapped with stripes of COW hide. The
point is a piece of iron, also fastened on
with raw hides. One handle put on
the same way. and the plow is ready
for work. The plow team is generally
two wild steers with stick OF wood
rawhided on their heads below the
horns.
When they are hitchcd up it takes the
family-generally ten-to plow. One
to hold the plOw and five to get on one
side and four on the other. They are
armed generally with stones and all are
ready when the steers start. The five
on the outside make circle of about
the size wanted to plow, and this cir
cling is kept up until the steers play
out. when two others are hi.ched in
with the same results When nearly
done they sow their wheat broadcast.
Well, you may ask how they finish
:heir plowing and harrow in the wheat
They turn the hogs in to finish the plow-
ing and the chickens scratch the grain
in.
They make straight furrows to irri-
gate By hitchiug up ad old COW and
"burrow." One holds the plow aud
the woman ge:s her apron full of corn
shucks and starts ahead of the team In
the right direction. and they follow her
Tor an occasional bite of fodder.
Now the field is ready for examination
by the Priest, who sets rude crosses at
the head Of each lane and asks the bless
ing Of st. Peter; and the field is proof
against grasshoppers and drought. The
grain ripens and is cut with a sickle aud
piled upon the threshing floor.
When "pan" is getting scarce and
they must thresh, they spread the grain
upon the cleaned off ground for the pur-
pose, and get the first sheep herd that
comes along to do the job. The floor
and grain is generally in circle. .he
sheep are kept OH trot over the grain
until it is all trampled out, when II Is
raked over, winnowed out, and washed
and dried and ready for the mill.
The mill is Il home made concern run
by water power, and has a pair of burrs,
water wheel and hopper. They go
to il once in twenty-four hours to I'LL
the hopper and take away the meal. 1t
is very gritty little mill and grinds
one kernel and then jumps onto another.
There are few old time wagons or
carts yet in sight. The two wheels are
made of pine or cottonwood logs; the
axles revolye with the wheels aud are
made entirely Of wood.
When the Americans came here they
brought with them their old plows and
wagons which crossed the plains In
1860, and commenced operations, and
were but little ahead of the old way.
They used to cuss the man that made
their tools. But when there was not a
piece of the original plow or wagon left,
they had to content themselves by buy
ing new ones which now adOrn our
homes.